<!-- Alternate content for non-supporting browsers --> <div id="pic-container" name="pic-container" style="float:right; width:310;height:225; text-align:right;background-color: white;"><img id="pic-rotate" name="pic-rotate" src="/news/newsletter/images/issue29/29-0.jpg" border="1" width="300" height="200" alt="A City of Villages" title="A City of Villages" /> <div id="pic-title" name="pic-title" style="float:right; margin: 0; padding: 0;"><font size="-2">A City of Villages </font></div></div><script type="text/javascript" language="javascript">var pic_sel= new Array(); pic_sel[0] = new Image(); pic_sel[0].src='/news/newsletter/images/issue29/29-0.jpg'; pic_sel[0].alt='A City of Villages'; var picnumb= 1; </script><font face='verdana,helvetica'> <i><b>A City of Villages : A Vision for 2009</b> <br />Jason A. Harvey<b> <p>"Healthy Food for All"</b></i> <p>Dear Friends and Supporters of Oakland Food Connection: </p> <p> Happy New Year! </p> <p> We are thoroughly excited to take OFC into a new year of food justice in Oakland with exciting plans and projects for this year. So let me be the first to tell you what I have in store. </p> <p> With the help of your donations, and the Stewardship Council and Mitchell-Kapor Foundation grant support in 2008, we were able to train 11 youth in gardening and nutrition education, while connecting their produce to consumers through establishing the Purple Lawn Cafe at a local farmers market. Fatima, Sephia and Cesar are three student participants from E.C. Reems who currently serve up tasty treats each week at our farmers market. Felipe, Jonathan, and Eferen are returning as garden and nutrition peer educators for our after school programs. </p> <p> In 2009 the Stewardship Council has stepped up their support and provided OFC with an opportunity to take our youth further into the outdoors on monthly hiking trips, visits to food justice and environmental groups, farms, camping trips. It's absolutely essential that we learn with youth how to reconnect with our local environment; on bay trails we will learn how to identify edible and medicinal foods, learn how natives used it, their cultural stories and how we can now work toward restoring the land to its natural state before contact with Europeans. </p> <p> Are you ready to get dirty?!?! Join us today in constructing two new gardens in East Oakland, over 4000 square feet of yard space to plant native fruits, vegetables and herbs for residents. Every Wednesday (7,14,21,28) in January, from 2pm to 6pm, are garden days for OFC. Send <br /> us an email if you are interested in coming out to get dirty:info@foodcommunityculture.org Along with your help over the next few months, our vision is to set up these two wonderful spaces for production by summer 2009. </p> <p> As of January 10th, our weekly farmers market will start again here in our parking lot, (4173 Mac Arthur Blvd) 10am to 2pm, every Saturday. Make us a part of your weekly shopping routine! In search of a healthy meal prepared by youth, a tasty sweet treat or a fresh selection of organic farm-fresh produce? Then come on by and check out the Purple Lawn Cafe, J&P Organics, and Biscotti de Bianchi. Through this market, we envision real community change happening, as we embark upon a fundraising campaign that will allow us to acquire the resources we need to train local residents in urban food production through farmers markets. </p> <p> OFC is in the news, thanks to Ingrid Severson at Bay Localize! A rooftop garden movement is developing in the Bay Area. And E.C. Reems has become a creative model to inspire students, parents and community members to grow food anywhere they can. Check out the link:http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/26/HO8M13VT75.DTL&type=printable </p> <p> OFC is also catering events! Catering allows us to raise funds for our day-to-day operations and stipends for youth. We cater for nonprofits, business meetings, events and individuals. Pass the word on to a friend about our services, or volunteer with OFC today. We're catering events on January 10th, 12th, 28th and 31st. Sign up today to chop some veggies and stir some pots. Email us at info@foodcommunityculture.org </p> <p> And lastly, mark your calendars for April 18th. OFC will host a spring fundraiser to launch the "Healthy Food for All" Campaign. Please save this date. More details to come. </p> <p> Well, friends, that's it from Oakland Food Connection for January! </p> <p> Sign up for a garden day, catering event, or our weekly farmers market! </p> <p> I look forward to working with you in 2009! </p> <br /> <br /> <p> Jason A. Harvey </p> <p> Founder & Director </p> <p> Oakland Food Connection <p> </p></font>
